# Monocle for Reddit vs Hydra

The clearest difference is review sentiment: Hydra at 75% against Monocle for Reddit's 20%. Hydra also leads on rating (4.8 vs 3.7) and ratings volume (814 vs 14). Monocle for Reddit's advantage is update cadence (every 2 weeks vs every 3 weeks) and iOS requirement (13.0 vs 16.4). On price, ads, in-app purchases and monetization model there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Monocle for Reddit sells 1 one-off in-app purchase and Hydra sells 5 in-app purchases, starting at $2.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

Hydra holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 3.7. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Hydra has 814 ratings behind it against 14, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 20% of Monocle for Reddit's written reviews are positive against 75% of Hydra's.

Monocle for Reddit ships an update every 2 weeks, Hydra every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on November 2, 2026 and November 4, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Monocle for Reddit | Hydra |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [3.7 (14 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/monocle-for-reddit/id1458259738/reviews) | **[4.8 (814 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/hydra-read-upvote-comment/id6478089063/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 14 | **814** |
| Positive reviews | 20.0% of reviews | **75.2% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Every 2 weeks** | Every 3 weeks |
| Monetization | Freemium | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 4 MB | 79 MB |
| Requires iOS | **13.0** | 16.4 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 17+ | 17+ |
| Developer | [Bastian Kohlbauer](https://appshunter.io/developer/295858723) | [Dimitrie Milinovich](https://appshunter.io/developer/1637204263) |

## What reviewers say

### Monocle for Reddit

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/monocle-for-reddit/id1458259738)

Browse and interact with Reddit content in a fast, lightweight, and customizable way. Create personalized feeds, enjoy a powerful media player, and manage multiple accounts with advanced posting and messaging features.

**Highlights:** Customizable Smart Feeds, Fast media player with Picture-in-Picture and AirPlay, Multi-account support, Full Markdown composer, Multi-window support, Dark Mode support, Low Data Mode

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Monocle Pro | $4.99 | one-time |


### Hydra

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/hydra-read-upvote-comment/id6478089063)

This app offers a fast, fluid, and seamless browsing experience for subreddits, designed with a native iOS aesthetic. It provides powerful features for both casual and dedicated users, enhancing media viewing and interaction with content.

**Highlights:** Lightning-fast loading, Multireddit support, Favorite subreddits, Native iOS design, Image and video viewer, Multiple account support, Quick access gestures

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (5)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Hydra Pro | $2.99 | per month |
| Nice Tip | $1.99 | one-time |
| Generous Tip | $4.99 | one-time |
| Amazing Tip | $9.99 | one-time |
| Incredible Tip | $19.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Massive potential
- 👍 Closest thing to Apollo
- 👍 Best option for 2025
- 👍 Better in almost every way
- 👍 Superior Reddit Client++

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🔒 Sketchy security

**Reported bugs**

- Expect some bumps

**Requested features**

- Customizing the gestures and hiding the username on the tab bar
- Content blocking, comment images, startup feed, and others


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Monocle for Reddit free?

Monocle for Reddit is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Is Hydra free?

Hydra is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, Monocle for Reddit or Hydra?

Hydra is rated higher. Monocle for Reddit averages 3.7 out of 5 from 14 ratings, while Hydra averages 4.8 from 814 ratings.

### Do Monocle for Reddit or Hydra have ads?

Neither Monocle for Reddit nor Hydra shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Monocle for Reddit or Hydra?

Monocle for Reddit ships an update every 2 weeks, and Hydra every 3 weeks. Most recently, Monocle for Reddit was updated on November 2, 2026 and Hydra on November 4, 2026.

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*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*